2024-09-03 –, Man Track
In this talk, we will explore the journey of scaling DevOpsDays Zürich from a compact, highly engaging event to a large-scale conference hosting 500 attendees. We'll delve into the challenges encountered, such as increased workload, the need for more sponsors, ticket sales pressures, and the unintended impact on perceived quality. The narrative will then shift to our critical decision-making process, trade-off analysis, and the strategic downscale back to 250 participants. We will share insights on managing community expectations, ensuring event quality, and achieving a balance that honors the core values of DevOpsDays.
Scaling an event like DevOpsDays Zürich brings a unique set of challenges and opportunities. In this presentation, we will share our firsthand experience of expanding the conference to accommodate 500 attendees. We will discuss the increased workload for organizers, the intensified search for sponsors, and the complexities of selling more tickets while trying to maintain the event's quality and integrity.
However, bigger isn't always better. We observed a decline in the perceived quality of the conference due to its size. This revelation led us to conduct a thorough trade-off analysis, contemplating the pros and cons of scale versus quality. The result was a strategic decision to downscale DevOpsDays Zürich back to 250 attendees.
The downscaling process was not without its challenges, yet it led to several unexpected benefits. The organization became significantly more manageable; sponsor slots were sold out within weeks, and ticket sales were brisk, with the event selling out a month in advance. This shift not only alleviated the logistical burdens but also reinstated the event's reputation for quality and exclusivity.
In this talk, we aim to share the lessons learned from both scaling up and down. We will discuss strategies for balancing growth with quality, managing community expectations, and ensuring that the spirit of DevOpsDays remains intact. Attendees can expect to leave with actionable insights for planning and scaling their events, ensuring they provide maximum value to both participants and sponsors while maintaining the essence of community engagement.
Dirk is a DevOps evangelist and Continuous Delivery expert at SAP.
Since 2001 Dirk worked in various roles at SAP which mainly revolved around Development and Operations. Together with his former team "TwoGo by SAP" he established the first Continuous Delivery implementation at SAP, delivering value daily to their customers.
In his current role, he is part of the CI/CD Product Management at SAP, helping SAP’s product teams on their CI/CD and DevOps journey.
Dirk is a frequent speaker at international conferences on DevOps and Continuous Delivery and co-organizer of DevOpsDays Zurich.
With my direct, accessible approach, I foster transparent communication and seize opportunities. My passion lies in empowering people and transforming corporate practices and strategies. I believe that change is the place to be because I see transformation as crucial beneath the surface of technical advancements. #movingforward